SUMMARY:
In the Things They Carried, Tim O' Brian, now 43, is the author and shares his war experiences in memory by looking back on his past. Tim's life was certainly not perfect but it was any normal life of a 21 year old. He still lived with his parents and he hated his job, but who didn't. His life was about to change forever when he got a letter in the mail saying he was drafted as a Vietnam War Solider. Suddenly his life came crashing down, there was no way in his right mind would he go fight a war that he didn't even agree with, so he left. Tim rushed to the Canadian Border in Minnesota where his conscience tested him. He stayed in a cabin resort alone with the owner. The owner didn't say one word to him about his problems only because he knew what was going on. The last day Tim was supposed to be there the owner gave him one chance to flee to Canada by bringing him on a boat ride. Tim overthought the burden he would be carrying if he did go to Canada and he thought of the fear he would have going to Vietnam. With that one test Tim decided without a doubt he was going to Vietnam. Now as Tim gets into his stories about what it was like in Vietnam, it's more of describing the soldiers feelings then what they did everyday. Everyday he explained how they were living in agony and denile. He explained the saddness and fear that carried through them when they woke up in the morning and looked around at their buddies knowing not all of them will be there at the end of the day. Sure war tests physical strength but it more importantly tests emotional stamina. It all had to do with how much one solider could carry. The title says it all, this book really is about "The Things They Carried." Tim O' Brien, the author and the main character of the book describes his memories of being in the Vietnam War. He explains what it was like, how they survived, their unexplainable experiences and most of all, he explained how each one of his friends kept their sanity. Sanity meaning what kept them going; motivation, all in the things they carried. Diversity was shown in every character as the author would explain what particular things they chose to carry. There were the necessities and family pictures, but then there were things like tranquilizers and women's underwear. As obscene as that might sound, wierd things like that were completely normal, because when it came down to it, every solider knew they wouldn't be able to go on without the things they carried. The things they carried wasn't just what was in their backpack, it was the things they carried emotionally as well. Day to day as they were fighting for their countries lives as well as their own, they carried physical and mental burdens within them. All in which would bulid up after each day in the war, their experiences were unexplainable so instead of talking about it they kept it as a memory they never forget and carry it forever. They carried fear, regrets, innocence, memories, guilt, longing, determination and love.
WHY THIS BOOK IS OUTSTANDING:
This book is outstanding for many reasons, one being that it is very easy to relate to. Even though the setting takes place in war the author made it known the book wasn't about war itself. The types of lessons learned in war can also come from another life style as well. That's why this book was so easy to relate with, everyone has physical and mental burdens in their life so being able to relate with the characters in the book was important. Also symbolism took a huge part in this book as well, which is another reason why this book it outstanding. Everything that happened during the war and everyone who died seemed to stand for something. For example Bob Riley and Curt Lemon, two young immature soliders would always make up games to pass the time. This particular game was played with a smoke bomb and had the rules close to hot potato and chicken. As their troop kept watch they played this game in the shade of a tree. When Curt Lemon won he stepped out from under the tree and soon was up in the tree, dead. He stepped in a booby trap. This example shows how innocence was a huge part of war and after Curt Lemon died his best friend Bob Riley learned from this and changed completely. With the many reasons that make this book great I think symbolism and relation are what makes this book truely outstanding.
WHY THIS BOOK WAS PUT ON THE OUTSTANDING LIST:
This book was put on the Outstanding Book For The College Bound List because it is really an outstanding book. The age level of the reader has a lot to do with it as well. There are some gory parts in this book but it all adds to the understanding of the situations so I think it is necesarry. Also I think this book was put on the list because it is geared roughly toward college kids. College kids can definately read this book and learn from all the lessons and themes, one of them being, stand up to fears. All in all I don't think this book would have been put on this list unless it had an outstanding overall meaning, which this book definately has.
WORDS OF RECOMMENDATION:
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a book full of life lessons. This book gets the reader emotionally attached and if you like that then this book is for you. My friends said to me, "I can't stand reading books about war! There so boring!" well this book isn't about war itself it's more about the characters in it. So if your one of those people just give this book a chance and this could be one of the best books you have ever read, I know it was for me.
These are some of my favorite quotes/sayings in this book that really made me stop and think:
"Theres things that happen along time ago and yet the remembering makes it now. And sometimes remembering will lead to a story, which makes it forever. That's what stories are for. Stories are for joining the past to the future. Stories are for those late hours in the night when you can't remember how you got from where you were to where you are. Stories are for eternity, when memory is erased, when there is nothing to remember except the story." (O' Brian, 38)
"In many cases a true story cannot be believed. If you believe it, be skeptical. It's a question of credibility. Often the crazy stuff is true and the normal stuff isn't, because the normal stuff is necessary to make you believe the truely incredible craziness." (O'Brian, 71)
SUMMARY:
In the Things They Carried, Tim O' Brian, now 43, is the author and shares his war experiences in memory by looking back on his past. Tim's life was certainly not perfect but it was any normal life of a 21 year old. He still lived with his parents and he hated his job, but who didn't. His life was about to change forever when he got a letter in the mail saying he was drafted as a Vietnam War Solider. Suddenly his life came crashing down, there was no way in his right mind would he go fight a war that he didn't even agree with, so he left. Tim rushed to the Canadian Border in Minnesota where his conscience tested him. He stayed in a cabin resort alone with the owner. The owner didn't say one word to him about his problems only because he knew what was going on. The last day Tim was supposed to be there the owner gave him one chance to flee to Canada by bringing him on a boat ride. Tim overthought the burden he would be carrying if he did go to Canada and he thought of the fear he would have going to Vietnam. With that one test Tim decided without a doubt he was going to Vietnam. Now as Tim gets into his stories about what it was like in Vietnam, it's more of describing the soldiers feelings then what they did everyday. Everyday he explained how they were living in agony and denile. He explained the saddness and fear that carried through them when they woke up in the morning and looked around at their buddies knowing not all of them will be there at the end of the day. Sure war tests physical strength but it more importantly tests emotional stamina. It all had to do with how much one solider could carry. The title says it all, this book really is about "The Things They Carried." Tim O' Brien, the author and the main character of the book describes his memories of being in the Vietnam War. He explains what it was like, how they survived, their unexplainable experiences and most of all, he explained how each one of his friends kept their sanity. Sanity meaning what kept them going; motivation, all in the things they carried. Diversity was shown in every character as the author would explain what particular things they chose to carry. There were the necessities and family pictures, but then there were things like tranquilizers and women's underwear. As obscene as that might sound, wierd things like that were completely normal, because when it came down to it, every solider knew they wouldn't be able to go on without the things they carried. The things they carried wasn't just what was in their backpack, it was the things they carried emotionally as well. Day to day as they were fighting for their countries lives as well as their own, they carried physical and mental burdens within them. All in which would bulid up after each day in the war, their experiences were unexplainable so instead of talking about it they kept it as a memory they never forget and carry it forever. They carried fear, regrets, innocence, memories, guilt, longing, determination and love.
WHY THIS BOOK IS OUTSTANDING:
This book is outstanding for many reasons, one being that it is very easy to relate to. Even though the setting takes place in war the author made it known the book wasn't about war itself. The types of lessons learned in war can also come from another life style as well. That's why this book was so easy to relate with, everyone has physical and mental burdens in their life so being able to relate with the characters in the book was important. Also symbolism took a huge part in this book as well, which is another reason why this book it outstanding. Everything that happened during the war and everyone who died seemed to stand for something. For example Bob Riley and Curt Lemon, two young immature soliders would always make up games to pass the time. This particular game was played with a smoke bomb and had the rules close to hot potato and chicken. As their troop kept watch they played this game in the shade of a tree. When Curt Lemon won he stepped out from under the tree and soon was up in the tree, dead. He stepped in a booby trap. This example shows how innocence was a huge part of war and after Curt Lemon died his best friend Bob Riley learned from this and changed completely. With the many reasons that make this book great I think symbolism and relation are what makes this book truely outstanding.
WHY THIS BOOK WAS PUT ON THE OUTSTANDING LIST:
This book was put on the Outstanding Book For The College Bound List because it is really an outstanding book. The age level of the reader has a lot to do with it as well. There are some gory parts in this book but it all adds to the understanding of the situations so I think it is necesarry. Also I think this book was put on the list because it is geared roughly toward college kids. College kids can definately read this book and learn from all the lessons and themes, one of them being, stand up to fears. All in all I don't think this book would have been put on this list unless it had an outstanding overall meaning, which this book definately has.
WORDS OF RECOMMENDATION:
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a book full of life lessons. This book gets the reader emotionally attached and if you like that then this book is for you. My friends said to me, "I can't stand reading books about war! There so boring!" well this book isn't about war itself it's more about the characters in it. So if your one of those people just give this book a chance and this could be one of the best books you have ever read, I know it was for me.
These are some of my favorite quotes/sayings in this book that really made me stop and think:
"Theres things that happen along time ago and yet the remembering makes it now. And sometimes remembering will lead to a story, which makes it forever. That's what stories are for. Stories are for joining the past to the future. Stories are for those late hours in the night when you can't remember how you got from where you were to where you are. Stories are for eternity, when memory is erased, when there is nothing to remember except the story." (O' Brian, 38)
"In many cases a true story cannot be believed. If you believe it, be skeptical. It's a question of credibility. Often the crazy stuff is true and the normal stuff isn't, because the normal stuff is necessary to make you believe the truely incredible craziness." (O'Brian, 71)